#17 The Breakthrough Of Blessing

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#17 The Breakthrough Of Blessing

In your journey of faith, when you meet opposition and resistance the way forward will be discovered by stepping through the doorway of blessing.  Your blessing, once released, becomes a miraculous point of breakthrough for you and for those who stand in opposition to you. 

When you are faced with rejection, misunderstanding or unforgiving attitudes your way forward will be revealed on the other side of your blessing. These supernatural doorways only appear to those who are willing to let go of the controlling power of pain and sorrow.  Bless your enemies and forgive your transgressors.  This is the way of Jesus and the way forward for those who have discovered His heart.

#16 Let People Tell Their Own Story

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

 #16 Let People Tell Their Own Story

It is too easy to want to tell the story of another person’s life.  Resist this urge especially when the story you are telling is about the life of someone who has hurt or wounded you.

Our story telling of another person’s life can devolve into defending our part in a broken relationship.  These stories can become a defense for our actions and not share the full scope of what took place because the other person is not present to share from their perspective.

When these opportunities to craft a biased narrative come, resist them.  Instead, craft words filled with hope and blessing for the other person and as you share be willing to admit you may have contributed to the breakdown of the relationship.  This restrained and honest response will create trust in your hearers and trust in the hearts of those with whom you have a broken relationship.  Give this process enough time and God will be able to use your words of honor to build a bridge that will someday span the pain of the past and extend an invitation to a future of restoration.

#15 Take Your Spouse With You

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#15 Take Your Spouse With You

Every life in ministry is a journey.  If you are married, the journey is a journey of two people – not one.  The isolated prophet who “hears God” then drags their spouse forward in reluctance is not the image of a healthy relationship.

A wise pastor once told me, “The real test of your leadership will come many years from now when we look at your wife.  If she still has a beautiful soul and is growing in that beauty, you will have become a good leader.” That same wise leader also said, “Before you begin your journey as a pastor, ask your wife what she wants to do and how involved she wants to be.  That is her decision, not a decision the church should make for her. Spend the rest of your time in ministry supporting her decision.” This truth also applies if you are a woman whose ministry is more visible than your husband.

The beauty of this way of life is that it doesn’t feel forced. Neither spouse has to be what other people demand of them – they can simply be the person God has called them to be.  The discovery of this freedom is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. When you choose to include your spouse and let him or her step into their unique God-assigned path and walk beside you in freedom, you will find 10,000 fleeing before you as a couple when on your best day as a solo act you could only frighten 1,000.

#14 Spiritual Janitors

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#14 Spiritual Janitors

You have not been called to be a spiritual janitor.  All the messes caused by other people are not immediately your concern.  There are times when a mess, caused by someone else, needs to sit there on the spiritual floor to be seen by all who pass by.  Your rush to clean things up can actually get the in the way of what God wants to do.

Be careful that you don’t create in others the need of your presence to resolve each and every dysfunction in their life.  This may make you feel needed, but in the end it will actually rob others of their responsibility to call on the Lord instead of calling on you.

We are asked to bear the burdens of others, but this bearing of another person’s burden is not permission for you to take on the weight of their choices.  Jesus said anything we carry in His name would be light and not cumbersome including the burdens of other people.  Jesus never asked you to bear the weight of another person’s poor decision-making process. When you begin to carry this weight the relationship will get heavy and clumsy with a responsibility that is not yours.  That weight will be your clue that you have assumed a role you were never assigned to fulfill.  

#13 The Weakness Of Our Strength

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#13 The Weakness Of Our Strength

The problem with having confidence in the strength of our will and talent is that eventually these strengths can become some of the greatest barriers to the work of God in our lives.  Living and ministering out of a place of self-defined strength will create a false confidence in your abilities to accomplish the will of God apart from the power of God.

Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul’s response to these words of the Lord was delight – “So now I am glad”.  Paul also said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” He knew he could experience real strength because in his place of weakness Jesus promised that He would be faithful to show up with a merciful display of His power.

Over the years, you will be told to develop the areas of your greatest strengths.  This is just the opposite of what Jesus would ask of you.  He would say, “Develop the place of your greatest weakness.  This is the place where I will be able to do my greatest work in you.”  I think the Lord would say this because in those places where you feel the weakest, God will not have to deal with the barrier of your pride when He approaches your life with an offer of wholeness.

It will be in these places of restored brokenness that God will raise up your ministry and reveal your destiny.  If you let God develop your weak places you will be able to say, like Paul, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

#12 The Hidden Reef Of Self-Pity

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#12 The Hidden Reef Of Self-Pity

There is a reef hidden under the surface of your life-journey.  It is called self-pity.  Self-pity remains hidden away like an uncharted coral reef.  It is hard to detect and easy to strike if not recognized with honesty.

Self-pity says, "I always need to be treated fairly."  "I always need to be understood." "I always need to be accepted." This “I need” attitude is really a demand we make of God and others when the grind of life has left us feeling alone.  We want the pain to go away, but don’t know how to make it happen.  In these times self-pity invites us to make a subtle course adjustment to align our thinking with the direction of its lie.  Disaster awaits all who sail this course.

God has always been with you. Never allow self-pity to linger in your thoughts convincing you that you are alone and no one understands your plight.  Self-pity is a stowaway who possesses a false set of navigational charts that will be offered to you in times of conflict and depression.  Throw this imposter overboard. This is a task only you can do. Once this lie is recognized you will be free to sail forward without fear into the deep waters of the Spirit.  Your life will become a confident journey once again when you allow God to take the helm of your thoughts.

#11 The Endorsement Of Your Ministry

(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.)

#11 The Endorsement Of Your Ministry

The endorsement of your ministry takes place when the supernatural presence of Jesus is made known. This is what Peter described on the Day of Pentecost when he told those assembled, “God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders and signs through him, as you well know.” The result of this endorsement – where God is miraculously present - is where the deepest and most culturally transforming events take place.

Revisit your priorities from time to time to make sure you have not reduced your ministry down to only doing good works in God’s name. It is too easy to slip into a form of ministry that ceases to contend for the supernatural things Peter described on the Day of Pentecost.

The good works you are doing are important, but they are limited in their ability to transform culture. Good works are only vehicles in which you travel that bring you face-to-face with human need.  It is at this point of contact with human need where you will have the opportunity to call for the power of God to come and do things that good works alone can never accomplish. Your invitation will allow Jesus to come and endorse His supernatural presence in you ministry.  This is the best endorsement you will ever receive.